Category: Strathbungo Society (page 1 of 16)

Network Rail are planning to cut down every tree along the 11 miles of track between East Kilbride and Glasgow Central. Their timetable starts in September i.e . now. When the chainsaws and giant chippers plan to arrive to work all night in Strathbungo, we do not know.

The Chair, Treasurer and Secretary of the Society and a number of local residents went along on Monday night to Network Rail’s ‘drop-in information’ session but came away shocked by the potential scale of destruction planned but also by the lack of detail from Network Rail about what they will do and when. Most importantly there was no real explanation why.

They seem to have a new policy which no longer just cuts down trees to a certain distance from the track or take down only large and dangerous trees. This time they imply that they will destroy every tree to the boundary line of their land. There is a possibility in the distant future of electrifying the line which would reduce diesel pollution but it could come at the price of removing the listed footbridge that they have spent over a quarter of a million pounds restoring. Nothing is clear.

If you have been in Strathbungo for a while you will have a sense of deja vu. We have been here before with Network Rail. Their corporate memory seems a bit short… Nobody in Strathbungo wants to compromise safety on the railway but there is a lack of proportion to this plan which if implemented would devastate precious habitat for birds, mammals and insects and rob residents of the screening from noise and pollution that trees provide.

As the Amazon burns and life-threatening storms, floods and droughts threaten the whole planet, Climate Emergency has finally become an issue that global governments are starting to address.

At a Scottish level, our government at Holyrood have declared a Climate Emergency and at local council level in Glasgow, ideas like using redundant golf courses for tree planting to increase wildlife habitat, curb pollution and sequester carbon are being actively considered.

This proposal from Network Rail is blatantly out of step, based on very outdated thinking and ignores all current research and practice for seeing trees as an asset which can help store carbon. Twenty-five square meters of woodland can store a tonne of carbon. There are nearly twelve thousand square meters just in the section of track from Crossmyloof to Nithsdale Road. If this is cut down that is a huge store of carbon release to warm the planet, destroy our climate and decimate human and wildlife populations.

Network Rail are responsible for over 6 million trees and as one of the biggest public landowners they control 20,000 miles of trackside habitat that is ideal for wildlife, across every type of landscape in the country from remote Highland peat bog to the urban wildlife corridors though our biggest cities. Yet they have drawn up plans to decimate this asset by taking a chainsaw to the trees and destroying vital resources for birds, mammals and insects. The unique flora of the trackside will also be lost as wood chips are scattered more than a foot deep smothering every living thing.

The report they are ignoring is called “Valuing Nature : A Railway for People and Wildlife” It sets out the fact that all public bodies must as a matter of urgency change their policies to conserve biodiversity and act against climate emergencies. Network Rail is described as having a “lack of strategic vision and ambition, and limited evidence of a culture that values the environment as a national asset”

The people who live in Strathbungo and all along the railway line do value the asset of beautiful green trees they see every day, alive with birds, squirrels, badgers, bats and foxes.

The Strathbungo Society had a successful approach to working with Network Rail over the handsome fence that was recently installed – despite Network Rail wanting high security prison style barriers so we are approaching this problem of potential destruction with the same determination.

The Society has written to Network Rail asking that they put any work planned for the area on hold until they have met with us and our political representatives including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Alison Thewliss our MP (Network Rail is a reserved issue to Westminster) and our four ward Councillors.

The Society has also requested plans, policy documents and assessments from Network Rail and we will keep you posted about what emerges. Please come along to the next Committee Meeting next Tuesday the 17th of September in The Bungo Bar at 7.30.

In the meantime, it is important to take your own steps to find out more from Network Rail, offer your objections to the plans and contact your political representatives and any campaign groups that you feel are appropriate.

There is another “information” – note, not “consultation” – meeting TONIGHT, Wednesday the 11th September 4pm – 7pm

Giffnock Library, Station Road, Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, G46 6JF

Don’t sit back and assume someone else will send that email or tweet – you have the power to do it yourself !

The Strathbungo Society and its events are run entirely by volunteers and we always welcome new people who want to help in any way they can. It’s important that volunteers are able to move on, so we are always looking for people to take on roles, from the small to the not-so-small, but also to develop new initiatives. Our Committee Meetings are open to all and advertised under the events sections of the bungoblog and Strathbungo Facebook page, so if you have ideas or want to know more do come along.

Current volunteering opportunities include:

Stewards for Window Wanderland 23rd February. We have stewards at larger events just in case anything goes wrong (stewards are briefed beforehand and we have a pick up point for lost children). Don a yellow bungo jacket for part of the evening and wander the streets. If interested either contact treasurer@strathbungo.co.uk or come to the Committee Meeting on 19th February

The Spring Fling. A small group is responsible for organising this event (co-ordination of craft stalls and events on the day) and would welcome someone else to join the team Contacts events@strathbungo.co.uk

The Bungo Committee. At our last AGM several people retired and were not replaced. We need more people on the Committee to keep going and have up to five vacancies. Do contact our Chair, Jane Carolann, at chair@strathbungo.co.uk or come along to our next meeting to see what is involved.

Newsletter delivery. Our distribution co-ordinator, Imelda Devlin, is always looking for new people to distribute our newsletter (3-4 times a year) whether to take on a street permanently or to act as a reserve when people are away.

Newsletter production. Our newsletter designer has indicated she would like to step down after many years. We now have a thriving editorial team who produce the copy so we are looking for someone who has layout skills.

Brighter Bungo. This is one of the easiest and most social ways to help with no commitments! Simply turn up on the day with your friends or family and help other volunteers keep our backlanes clean (all equipment provided). Next event will be probably be in April. More details from brighterbungo@strathbungo.co.uk

STRATHBUNGO WINDOW WANDERLAND IS BACK… GET THE DATE IN YOUR DIARY AND YOUR THINKING CAP ON!

On Saturday 23 February 2019, Strathbungo Window Wanderland will once again transform the streets of Strathbungo into a spectacular outdoor gallery for all to enjoy.

As always, the success of last year’s event was down to the incredible efforts of residents and their wonderful window displays… From performances in front rooms to amazing projections onto buildings; mischievous monkeys, polka dot parties, disco balls, bubble baths, mythical creatures, intricate installations, pop up bingo halls and tattoo parlours, fantastical faraway lands and music filling the streets…. It was beautiful! We can’t wait to see what 2019’s event brings!

Simply create a window display in the front windows of your flat, house, business or shop. Please don’t feel intimidated! A ‘display’ could be as simple as a candle, book, fairy lights or image in a window. Or you could go all out and stage a performance in your front room! Simple or spectacular… it’s completely up to you.

Strathbungo Window Wanderland is organised entirely by volunteers in their spare time. If you have any questions or would like to help spread the word about the event, please contact Sarah Reid at bungo_window_wander@hotmail.com

Strathbungo Window Wanderland was inspired by and is part of the wider Window Wanderland programme which was set up in Bristol in 2015. If you would like to run an event in your area, go to windowwanderland.com

Supported by the Strathbungo Society and Pollokshields Area Partnership.

Glasgow City Council are consulting on the introduction of “bread bin” type cycle storage lockers on streets to encourage more people to cycle (see here). There is a questionnaire that can be accessed through the link. After asking some information about respondents, such as whether you own a bike, there are two key questions. Whether you are in favour of on street secure cycle storage, even if this means a loss of parking spaces, and how much you would people be prepared to pay. £1.50 a week is being mooted which seems a lot when car parking is free.

The Strathbungo Society has previously discussed on street secure cycle storage, particularly for the Nithsdale Rd/St/Lane area, as part of the Pollokshields Charrette. The general view is that it could make a big difference for people staying in tenement flats, not just in terms of saving space but also saving people from lugging bikes up stairwells. That is not to say other streets might not be interested. We would like to hear what you think, particularly if you respond to the consultation or would be interested in using a bike box. If enough people are interested we can facilitate a meeting and help make the case to the Council that Strathbungo should be included in the initial trial.

I have offered to act as contact for this until we get a “bike officer” on the Committee! You can contact me at treasurer@strathbungo.co.uk

The Strathbungo Society was saddened to hear of the untimely death of Lesley McCallum last Sunday. Lesley was a stalwart supporter of the Strathbungo Society and former Committee member. Lesley organised and ran the Society Bottle Stall at every ‘Bungo in the Back Lanes’ event since its inception and also hosted many ‘Bungo at the Bells’ events at her home at the corner of Queen Square and Moray Place. Lesley’s help and encouragement of the Society’s work will be sorely missed and the Society passes on its sincere condolences to her husband David, brother Alistair and nephew Jack. Rest in Peace.

AGMs play a vital democratic function. In the Strathbungo Society’s case it helps ensure we remain accountable to all of you in the local community whom we represent and is also an important means of enabling new people to get involved – without this, the Society and all the events we organise would not happen. So, please think seriously about coming along to our AGM (details below).

We try to make our AGM as informative and enjoyable as possible. It provides plenty of opportunity for people to contribute – we want your ideas – besides offering tea, coffee, a glass of wine and a chance to meet other people living in the area. This year we have arranged a speaker from Sustrans, who are leading the work on the South City Way (see here) – an opportunity to talk about other ideas for improving walking and cycling links on the southside. We will also have small group discussions about local Green Space, focusing on Queen’s Park – Glasgow City Council is currently consulting about its Open Space Strategy (see here), which is essential for everyone’s quality of life. We would like to feed your ideas and views into that with the aim of improving what we have currently.

The four office bearers act as Trustees for the Charity and report to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator each year. We are looking for at least one new Office-Bearer, to replace our current Chair, Kevin Kane who is standing down – as he had intended to do last year – and also for new Committee Members.

The Strathbungo Society is a registered charity and has to produce annual reports and financial statements that meet the requirements of the Office of Scottish Charity Regulator. The Report from Trustees for the year from 1st May 2016 to 30th April 2017 and the Independent Examiner’s Report on the financial statements were approved at the AGM held on 24th October 2017. They can be read or downloaded by clicking the links.

Come along to review the past year and look forward to what’s coming up. We’ll be hearing about Bygone Bungo and consulting attendees about a range of topics, including options for the red phone box on Nithsdale Road.

We’ll also be electing a new committee, and will be looking for volunteers to help us run the Society over the next year.